There is much more work ahead of Serbia in order to get the date for the beginning of the accession talks including items on the reform agenda and progress in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick stated, stressing that the U.S. will continue to support Kosovo's government and its sovereignty in the entire territory.

The local elections organized by the Serbian authorities in line with the Serbian laws will appoint representatives who will have no power within the Kosovo institutions and laws. On the occasion of the Serbia-run elections in Kosovo in 2008, the special envoy of the UN secretary general stated that the elections and their results, as well as formation of the Serb municipal institution, have no legitimacy. Therefore, this is an issue which needs to be tackled, Warlick said.

Noting that obviously Serbia and the U.S. do not see eye to eye in certain aspects, the Kosovo issue included, Warlick said in an interview for the Thursday edition of Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti that Serbia, the U.S. and all regional countries recognize the importance of stability and good neighboring relations.

Serbia has great understanding of the importance of establishing normal and predictable relations with Kosovo, so that both parties could move ahead. The U.S. will continue to offer support, primarily to the dialogue, which we find very important for the resolution of open issues, the U.S. ambassador said.

As we have repeated many times before, the U.S. views the issue of status as a closed chapter. Serbian President Boris Tadic has on many occasions mentioned his four-point plan, but we believe that his ideas are still underway, and therefore we have not yet taken an official position in that respect, Warlick said.

When asked whether the U.S. will ask from Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo, the U.S. ambassador underlined that both parties should continue to build the dialogue as it should be a framework for all remaining open issues in order to establish sustainable relations and secure the stability of the region.

At this point, the issue of recognition is much less important than better life of people in the region and better living conditions in both countries, Warlick said.